Tag: hon. randall t. eng

Posted on

Celebrate 2026 AAPI Heritage Month with AABANY!

In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month this year, AABANY is presenting or co-sponsoring several events this month. We hope to see you all there! Follow the links for more details, and please note the registration deadlines. This blog post will be updated throughout the month, as new events get added on, so check back for any updates.

May 2, 2026 

AABANY Co-Sponsors: Korean Hat Day at Yankee Stadium

1:35pm – Yankees Stadium, 1 E. 161 E. 161st Street

This event has already occured.

May 3, 2026

AABANY Sunday Run Day

11:00 am – Start at Bedford Ave (L); End at Canal St. & Chrystie St.
This event is preparation for the May 23 AAPI 5k run.

This event has already occurred.

May 5-7, 2026

Asian Comedy Fest 2026: AABANY Discount Available

7pm and 9pm – Sugar Mouse NYC, 47 3rd Avenue, Lower Level, New York, NY 10003

For more details, click here.

May 6, 2026

AABANY Co-Sponsors: Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together

1:00 pm – Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Courtroom 2.95, 320 Jay Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201

For more details, click here.

May 6, 2026

AABANY Co-Sponsors: Beginner’s Mahjong

6:00pm – Sparrow’s Nest Studio, 35 W. 35th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018

Registration is closed for this event.

May 6, 2026

AABANY Presents: Dumplings & Discussion Series Featuring Judge Pamela K. Chen

6:00pm -Midtown location – to be emailed to registrants.

Registration is closed for this event.

May 9, 2026

AABANY Bi-Monthly Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic

12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11232

For more details and to register by May 7, click here.

May 10, 2026

AABANY Sunday Run Day

11:00 am – Start at Bedford Ave (L); End at Canal St. & Chrystie St.
This event is preparation for the May 23 AAPI 5k run.

For more details, click here.

May 16, 2026

AABANY Presents: 3rd Annual Wellness Retreat

10:00 am – 5:00 pm – Blue Cliff Monastery, 3 Mindfulness Rd, Pine Bush, New York 12566

For more details and to register by May 4, click here.

May 18, 2026

Appellate Division, First Dept., Presents “Fred Korematsu and His Fight for Justice: A Historical Reenactment”

5:45pm – Appellate Division, First Department, 27 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010

For more details, click here.

May 17, 2026

AABANY Sunday Run Day

11:00 am – Start at Bedford Ave (L); End at Canal St. & Chrystie St.
This event is preparation for the May 23 AAPI 5k run.

For more details, click here.

May 19, 2026

AABANY Co-Sponsors: New York County Civil Court’s Screening of “Voices Against Anti-Asian Hate”

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm – 111 Centre Street, Room 107, New York, New York 10013

For more details, click here.

May 19, 2026

AABANY Judiciary Committee Presents: 2026 Annual Judges’ Reception

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Nexus Club, 100 Church Street, New York, New York 10007

For more details and to register by May 17, click here.

May 19, 2026

AABANY Book Club Presents: We Do Not Part by Han Kang

6:00 pm – Anderson & Associates, 347 W 36th St, Suite 1003, New York, New York 10018

For more details and to register by May 17, click here.

May 20, 2026

AABANY Monthly Manhattan Pro Bono Legal Clinic

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), 111 Norfolk St., New York, New York 10002

For more details and to register by May 18, click here.

May 21, 2026

AABANY Issues Committee Monthly Meeting

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Zoom

For more details and to register by May 19, click here.

May 23, 2026

Join Team AABANY for 2026 NYC AAPI 5K to Support AALFNY

8:00 am – Pier 45, Hudson River Greenway, New York, NY 10014

For more details and to register by May 5, click here.

May 26, 2026

Kings County Family Court’s AAPI Heritage Committee Presents: A Celebration of Asian Resilience

1:10pm – Brooklyn Family Court, Judges Boardroom, 330 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

For more details, click here.

May 27, 2026

AABANY Co-Sponsors: Fourth Annual Hon. Randall T. Eng Award Program

12:45 pm – 2:15 pm – New York Supreme Court Appellate Division – Second Department, 45 Monroe Place, Brooklyn, New York, New York 11201

For more details and to register by May 15, click here.

May 28, 2026

AABANY Annual Dinner 2026

5:30pm – 12:00am – Cipriani Wall Street, 55 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005

Click here for details.

May 31, 2026

AABANY Presents: Match Day at Gotham FC (vs Houston Dash)

3:00 pm – Sports Illustrated Stadium, 600 Cape May St, Harrison, New Jersey 07029

For more details and to register by May 25, click here.

Posted on

Celebrate 2025 AAPI Heritage Month with AABANY!

In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month this year, AABANY is presenting or co-sponsoring several events this month. We hope to see you all there! Follow the links for more details, and please note the registration deadlines.

May 1, 2025

AABANY Co-Sponsors: Karaoke Showdown

6:00 pm, 22 W 32nd St. 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001.

Registration is closed for this event.

May 4, 2025

AABANY Sunday Run Day

8:30 AM (Meet at 8:30 am. Runtime 9:00 am.)

In the lawn near the 86th Street A train station (Central Park West and West 86th)

This event is preparation for the May 24 AAPI 5k run. For more information, click here.

May 10, 2025

AABANY Co-Sponsors: Southern Brooklyn AAPI Heritage Month Celebration 2025

11:00 am. P.S. 105, 1031 59th St
Brooklyn, New York 11219

For more information, click here.

May 11, 2025

AABANY Sunday Run Day

8:30 AM (Meet at 8:30 am. Runtime 9:00 am.)

In the lawn near the 86th Street A train station (Central Park West and West 86th)

This event is preparation for the May 24 AAPI 5k run. For more information, click here.

May 14, 2025

AABANY Co-Sponsors: Third Annual Hon. Randall T. Eng Award Program

12 :45 – 2:15 PM – New York Supreme Court Appellate Division – Second Department
45 Monroe Place, Brooklyn, New York, New York 11201

Click here for more information.

May 14, 2025

Join AABANY for Mets v. Pirates Baseball Game

Citi Field / Mets Stadium, 41 Seaver Way, Flushing, New York 11368

Click here for more information.

May 14, 2025

AABANY Co-Sponsors: Talking with Trailblazers

6:00 pm – Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
1 Manhattan West, 395 9th Ave., New York, New York 10001

Click here for more information.

May 18, 2025

AABANY Sunday Run Day

8:30 AM (Meet at 8:30 am. Runtime 9:00 am.)

In the lawn near the 86th Street A train station (Central Park West and West 86th)

This event is preparation for the May 24 AAPI 5k run. For more information, click here.

May 18, 2025

AABANY Co-Sponsors: Asian Americans in Public Service

2:00 – 5:00 pm, Clinton G. Martin Park Main Room-New Hyde Park Rd. & Marcus Ave, New Hyde Park, New York 11042

Click here for more information.

May 20, 2025

GSPI & Judiciary Committees Co-Sponsor: “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience”

12:45 – 2:15 pm, Queens Supreme Court – Civil Term, Ceremonial Courtroom 2588-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, New York 11435

Click here for more information.

May 21, 2025

AABANY Monthly Manhattan Pro Bono Legal Clinic

6:30 – 8:30 pm, AAFE Community Center – 111 Norfolk Street, New York, New York 10002

Click here for more information.

May 24, 2025

AABANY Presents: 2025 NYC AAPI 5K – Pier 45

Hudson River Greenway, New York, New York 10014

Click here to register and find event details.

May 24, 2025

Community Memorial Service for Honorable Justice Dorothy Chin-Brandt

12:00 – 2:00 PM – Glow Cultural Center 133 – 29, 41st Avenue Flushing, New York 11355

Click here for details.

May 28, 2025

AABANY Co-Sponsors: “Voices Against Asian Hate.”

12:00 to 2:30 PM–STATEN ISLAND BOROUGH HALL, ROOM 124 -10 Richmond Ter
New York, New York  10301

Click here for details.

May 29, 2025

AABANY Annual Dinner 2025

5:30 pm – 12:00 am – Cipriani Wall Street 55 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005

Click here for details.

May 31, 2025

AABANY Bi-Monthly Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic

12:30 – 2:00 pm – CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232

Click here to register to volunteer.

Posted on

In the News: Hon. Randall T. Eng (Ret.) Authors Op-Ed on Advancing Asian American Representation in New York’s Judiciary

In the op-ed “Time for Change: Addressing Underrepresentation of Asian American Judges in the New York State Judiciary,” published on January 14, 2025, in the New York Law Journal, former Presiding Justice Randall T. Eng (Ret.) addresses the longstanding underrepresentation of Asian Americans in the New York State judiciary. While progress has been made since his historic appointment as the first Asian American judge in the state in 1983, the numbers remain glaring. Asian Americans, who constitute about 15% of New York City’s population, occupy only 5% of the judiciary statewide. Of the 1,300 state-paid judges, just 68 are Asian American, and many counties have never had an Asian American judge in positions of significant judicial power.

Justice Eng stresses the significance of leadership roles in the judiciary, pointing out that “there are 105 administrative and supervisory positions throughout the state… only five are held by Asian Americans, and there are none within OCA’s [Office of Court Administration] executive leadership team.” He also draws attention to historic firsts, such as Kathy Hirata Chin being shortlisted for the Court of Appeals vacancy in 2012 but emphasizes the need for urgent action, because to date no Asian American has been appointed to the New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.

Despite some progress, systemic inequities persist. For example, only three counties – Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn – have elected Asian Americans to the Supreme Court, while the remaining 59 counties remain without representation. Justice Eng asserts that true progress requires collective effort and advocacy: “We need to take it to the next step. We need to start saying as a community ‘it should be us.’” He calls on the community to expect and demand nominations for future vacancies, ensuring that representation reflects the diversity of the state.

To read Justice Eng’s call for change, op-ed in full, click here. (subscription required).

Posted on

AABANY Co-Sponsors Inaugural Hon. Randall T. Eng Award Program

AABANY co-sponsored the Inaugural Hon. Randall T. Eng Award Program on May 31, 2023, organized by and held at the Appellate Division, Second Department of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

Congratulations to Hon. Randall T. Eng, Retired Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department for this award named in recognition of his tremendous and trailblazing career and impact on the AAPI community. 

Congratulations to Congresswoman Grace Meng, 6th Congressional District. As the first and only Asian American Member of Congress from New York State, it is only fitting that she is the first recipient of the Hon. Randall T. Eng award. Congresswoman Meng’s advocacy for the AAPI community is impactful and far-reaching and AABANY applauds her tremendous work and service, including her work towards the creation of a national museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. 

Congratulations to Presiding Justice Hector D. LaSalle and the Appellate Division, Second Department with the successful launch of the Hon. Randall T. Eng Award Program. 

The Program included remarks from:

Hon. Lara J. Genovesi, Associate Justice, Appellate Division, Second Department

Hon. Hector D. LaSalle, Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, Second Department

Letitia James, New York State Attorney General

Melinda Katz, District Attorney of Queens

Hon. Lillian Wan, Associate Justice, Appellate Division, Second Department

Karen Kim, President, AABANY

Chief Judge Hon. Rowan D. Wilson was also in attendance, as well as the distinguished judges of the Appellate Division, Second Department, and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. We would also like to extend our appreciation to the Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, Hon. Madeline Singas, Michael Garcia, and Anthony Cannataro, for their attendance.

It was a privilege to collaborate with the Hon. Lillian Wan and the co-sponsoring bar associations: KALAGNY, FALANY, SABANY, MUBANY, and SAICBAQ. This event provided a meaningful and memorable way to celebrate and close out AAPI Heritage Month.

Posted on

AABANY Board Director Chris Kwok Interviews Randall T. Eng, the First Asian American Judge in New York State

AABANY Board Director Chris Kwok had the pleasure of interviewing Hon. Randall T. Eng (ret.) on May 7, for the Historical Society of the New York Courts’s podcast. Justice Eng was a pioneer in many respects for Asian Americans pursuing leadership roles in the legal profession. He became the first Asian American judge in New York State, one of many firsts for this trailblazer. Chris Kwok and Justice Eng discuss his life from his earliest days in Queens and China, the transition to becoming a lawyer, and the many obstacles Judge Eng faced as an Asian American in the legal profession, during a time when there was far less diversity in the profession. Today’s surge in anti-Asian hate and violence around the country renders Judge Eng’s life story more salient than ever.

To watch or listen to the recording of the interview, click here.

Posted on

Two Asian American Judges Talk Leadership: Hon. Lillian Wan & Hon. Randall Eng

In April, Hon. Randall T. Eng and Hon. Lillian Wan came together to discuss the dearth of Asian American representation among New York’s judiciary and public offices. In a podcast episode published by the Historical Society of the New York Courts, they open up about their career paths and the obstacles they faced while pursuing their respective careers. When Judge Eng took up his jurist position in 1983, there were no other Asian American jurists within the city or state of New York. Now, there are 39 sitting Asian American jurists. Though the number of Asian American jurists has increased, progress has been exceedingly slow.

This past May was Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, so the conversation between Hon. Lillian Wan and Hon. Randall Eng was featured on the Society’s home page. Hon. Lillian Wan, President of the Asian American Judges Association of New York, an AABANY member and a member of the Society’s Board of Trustees, has been nominated as a candidate for the New York State Supreme Court in Kings County and currently serves as Kings County Supreme Court Civil Term Judge. Throughout their conversation, Judge Wan and Judge Eng discuss how Asian American attorneys today can advocate for Asian American representation in positions of legal leadership, as well as judicial and public offices.

To listen to the podcast go to https://history.nycourts.gov/podcasts/podcast-11/.

Posted on

Congratulations to Ushir Pandit-Durant on Her Historic Induction as Queens Supreme Court Justice

On December 21, the Hon. Ushir Pandit-Durant made history as the first South Asian judge elected to New York State Supreme Court in Queens and the first South Asian woman judge elected in New York State. Justice Pandit-Duran was sworn in by the Hon. Randall T. Eng (ret.), former Presiding Justice of the Second Department, New York State Appellate Division. Justice Eng was the first Asian American elected judge in New York State so it was especially fitting for one trailblazer in the Asian American community to swear in another trailblazer. Hon. Joseph Zayas, Administrative Judge of the Queens Supreme Court, Criminal Term, presided.

Justice Pandit-Duran began her career as a Prosecutor in the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, serving there with distinction for 25 years before being elected to New York City Civil Court in 2015, becoming the first South Asian to hold that elected office.

The induction took place at the Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. Numerous speakers, including elected officials and community leaders, extolled Justice Pandit-Duran’s exemplification of the American Dream, coming here at age 10 not speaking a word of English and rising up to become a top prosecutor and now judge. As a South Asian, Justice Pandit-Durant reflects the diversity of Queens, one of the most diverse boroughs of New York City, with a large Asian population. Justice Pandit-Durant is herself a bar leader, having served as the first President of the South Asian Indo-Caribbean Bar Association of Queens.

AABANY congratulates Justice Pandit-Durant on her historic election and wishes her continued success and achievement as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

Posted on

From the Historical Society of the New York Courts:

Hon. Randall T. Eng shares his experience as the first Asian-American judge in New York State. At the time of the filming of this interview, he was also the first Asian-American Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, appointed in the fall of 2012. Watch as Justice Eng talks about his family background, career in the law, how he handled discrimination and racism, and the people in his life that served as inspiration.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
Posted on

//picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

On January 31, AABANY’s Judiciary Committee co-organized a community celebration in New York’s Chinatown in honor of the Hon. Randall T. Eng to recognize his historic elevation to Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, Second Department, the first Asian American to be appointed to this position. About 250 attendees filled Delight 28 located at 28 Pell Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown, next door to the building that Presiding Justice Eng and his family first moved into upon arriving in the United States from Hong Kong.

Many AABANY members were present, including President Jean Lee, Immediate Past President Linda Lin and past presidents James Chou, Vincent Chang, Yang Chen and Glenn Lau-Kee. The Prosecutors’ Committee also turned out in force, having honored Presiding Justice Eng as a trailblazer in 2011. Rosemary Yu, ADA from the New York County DA’s office, was one of the organizers of the event, together with Mark Fang, who came to know Justice Eng through the JAG Corp.

Presiding Justice Eng’s parents, wife, sister and in-laws also came out to celebrate along with many community members and leaders, not just in Chinatown but from Westchester as well.

We thank everyone who attended for making this a truly memorable and special occasion.

Proudly powered by WordPress